Critiquing

Friday had my writing buddies round. Once a month we meet for a critiquing session where a couple of us submit a piece of writing for fine-tooth comb scrutiny. A scarey process, but necessary for growth. This is the third time Asiah has joined us - she has had I think three stories published - lovely ironic slices of life and a real sense of mischief. Leah joined us for critiquing for the first time. She has been in critiquing groups for years and has more experience in that sense than the rest of us put together (we're so new to it, feeling the way.) We looked at a couple of stories of Mercy's - one of them an excellent short short - almost there but the language in need of tightening to make it a little more pacey. Then we looked at some short pieces of memoir/essays I had written and was not sure what to do with ... and ended up with some pretty good suggestions (This one should be used for a poem. ... This one feels just like raw material from your notebook maybe you could use it as part of a story but you need to add more to it.... This one is good, I wanted to know more ... ). It's so helpful to know how what you've written strikes other people - and you're always surprised by responses.

Leah was so positive about our little group - said we were communicative, articulate and honest without being hurtful - and the groups she's been in before haven't always been like this. (Feel dead chuffed that we're suceeding!)

We also had a good laugh together - wicked women's laughter over spaghetti puttanesca (which translates as "lady of the night" spaghetti!)and beaujolais noveau. Delicious.